Tasting Madeira Wine

All Madeira wines should be stored upright, away from direct sunlight and just below room temperature.  The majority of wines are all bottled ready to be drunk and will not improve with age.

Vintage Madeira's will mellow out during the first two years after bottling and they have the fascinating ability to remain in excellent condition for many years, even for centuries.  Older vintages should be decanted to remove any deposit that has built up over the years and should be open well in advance before drinking. A general rule is to open the wine one day for every 10 years that the wine has been in bottle. 

Once opened, Madeira wine can last for many months if stored in the correct conditions.

When it comes to enjoying Madeira, we suggest that the dry and medium dry styles be served chilled (12°C) and the medium rich and rich styles be served slightly chilled (16°C).  The glassware is important we suggest that all materials should be enjoyed using a typical port glass.